By Davie Cook, Examiner.com
Pacquiao vs Mayweather is a high profile matchup between Manny Pacquiao (Pac Man) and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. At first, the fight was orchestrated rather quickly, with both fighters agreeing on usually controversial items such as the purse, gloves used, weight, ring size, and more. However, Floyd Mayweather made a very odd demand that may have de-railed the entire fight: he wants an Olympic Style drug test performed.
It's not that Pacquiao won't succumb to drug testing, it's just that he doesn't want extensive blood taken before a fight. He feels that it weakens him. He agreed to urine tests and also blood tests after the fight was completed.
For Mayweather, it wasn't enough. He wanted the Olympic Style drug test, and even egged his opponent on, claiming that he had something to hide.
Big mistake.
Pacquiao made it known that he has nothing to hide, and said he might sue Mayweather for defamatory statements.
Of course all this back and forth could be a way to get fans on both sides of the ring to get really excited about the match. People all over will tune in on March 13th - that is, if the match occurs.
Mayweather has backed down from his original desires for Olympic Style drug testing. The two sides are hashing out the details of the fight and it may not be canceled after all. Manny Pacquiao was recently dubbed the "Second Greatest Boxer of All Time" after Sugar Ray Robinson. The Pac Man will likely want to defend this honor, whereas Floyd Mayweather Jr would like to be the man that beats one of the best.
Whether or not all this drama was orchestrated to increase the hype surrounding the fight, one thing is for sure: everyone wants to see the fight take place. If it does, it will take place in Las Vegas, and those outside the area will be able to watch the match on Pay Per view.
Source: examiner.com
Wednesday 30 December 2009
Roach worries over drug allegations against Pacquiao -- Manila Bulletin
By NICK GIONGCO, Manila Bulletin
When allegations of drug use involving Manny Pacquiao began floating a few weeks ago, Freddie Roach said he was hardly affected.
Not anymore.
“The general public now thinks Manny’s on steroids,” Roach told the Bulletin yesterday from Los Angeles, sounding very much concerned that the Filipino pound-for-pound king is now being perceived to be guilty even though he has passed all the medical requirements in the US.
Many believe the Mayweather camp is trying to get into the head of Pacquiao, destabilize him and thus has been concocting this thing about performance-enhancing drugs.
But whatever it is, Roach said their training schedule must proceed on schedule.
Roach said he’s been unsuccessful in trying to get Pacquiao on the phone with him so they could discuss plans for the future – tops of which is the proposed March 13, 2010, super fight with Floyd Mayweather.
“This is the reason why I want to talk to him,” said Roach when asked about the possible site for training camp in the event promoters of the two fighters finally succeed in ironing out kinks. “I think we could still find a way to make the fight happen by agreeing on a compromise.”
Roach even asked the help of this writer to relay his message to Pacquiao, something that was immediately done just like in the past when the celebrated cornerman wanted to get a piece of the world’s No. 1 fighter.
“If you get to talk to Manny, tell him I want to talk to him,” added Roach.
Pacquiao has refused to give in to Mayweather’s demand that they undergo Olympic-style testing, going to the extent of threatening him and Golden Boy Promotions, the outfit that represents Mayweather, with a lawsuit for defamation.
Pacquiao said he doesn’t mind having his blood drawn as long as it is not as close to the fight date because he said it affects him mentally, something that Mayweather’s camp is not agreeable to.
Meanwhile, Dr. Alex Pineda of the Philippine Olympic Committee has arrived in General Santos City to supervise the initial part of the urine testing procedure on Pacquiao as per order of the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
Pineda said 60 ml of the urine sample will be labeled “A”, while the remaining 40 ml will be listed “B”.
If Pacquiao tests positive for a banned substance, the "B" sample will be tested to confirm if there was a discrepancy in the results.
Pineda, a member of the Southeast Asian Games region anti-doping council, said Pacquiao’s urine is scheduled to be drawn Wednesday so he could return to Manila and ship the two sets of samples to a testing center in China, Thailand or Malaysia recognized by the World Anti-Doping Agency.
Source: mb.com.ph
When allegations of drug use involving Manny Pacquiao began floating a few weeks ago, Freddie Roach said he was hardly affected.
Not anymore.
“The general public now thinks Manny’s on steroids,” Roach told the Bulletin yesterday from Los Angeles, sounding very much concerned that the Filipino pound-for-pound king is now being perceived to be guilty even though he has passed all the medical requirements in the US.
Many believe the Mayweather camp is trying to get into the head of Pacquiao, destabilize him and thus has been concocting this thing about performance-enhancing drugs.
But whatever it is, Roach said their training schedule must proceed on schedule.
Roach said he’s been unsuccessful in trying to get Pacquiao on the phone with him so they could discuss plans for the future – tops of which is the proposed March 13, 2010, super fight with Floyd Mayweather.
“This is the reason why I want to talk to him,” said Roach when asked about the possible site for training camp in the event promoters of the two fighters finally succeed in ironing out kinks. “I think we could still find a way to make the fight happen by agreeing on a compromise.”
Roach even asked the help of this writer to relay his message to Pacquiao, something that was immediately done just like in the past when the celebrated cornerman wanted to get a piece of the world’s No. 1 fighter.
“If you get to talk to Manny, tell him I want to talk to him,” added Roach.
Pacquiao has refused to give in to Mayweather’s demand that they undergo Olympic-style testing, going to the extent of threatening him and Golden Boy Promotions, the outfit that represents Mayweather, with a lawsuit for defamation.
Pacquiao said he doesn’t mind having his blood drawn as long as it is not as close to the fight date because he said it affects him mentally, something that Mayweather’s camp is not agreeable to.
Meanwhile, Dr. Alex Pineda of the Philippine Olympic Committee has arrived in General Santos City to supervise the initial part of the urine testing procedure on Pacquiao as per order of the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
Pineda said 60 ml of the urine sample will be labeled “A”, while the remaining 40 ml will be listed “B”.
If Pacquiao tests positive for a banned substance, the "B" sample will be tested to confirm if there was a discrepancy in the results.
Pineda, a member of the Southeast Asian Games region anti-doping council, said Pacquiao’s urine is scheduled to be drawn Wednesday so he could return to Manila and ship the two sets of samples to a testing center in China, Thailand or Malaysia recognized by the World Anti-Doping Agency.
Source: mb.com.ph
Manny Pacquiao testing update -- FightNews
By Nick Giongco, FightNews.com
A urine sample of Manny Pacquiao is on its way to Manila, World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) accredited doctor Alex Pineda told Fightnews and Manila Bulletin on Wednesday afternoon. Pineda, who also works for the Philippine Olympic Committee, personally witnessed the initial phase of testing at Pacquiao’s residence in General Santos City. Pineda arrived in General Santos City at around lunchtime, headed to Pacquiao’s palatial home where he got the sample, then was driven back to the airport so he could catch the plane bound for Manila.
The samples (a total of 100 ml)–labeled “A” and “B”–will be sent to Thailand, Malaysia or China because “we don’t have a Wada-accredited testing in the country,” said Pineda.
Results of the tests will be sent to his office or to the desk of Games and Amusements Board chairman Eric Buhain, who had requested Pineda to go to General Santos City.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC), had ordered that tests be done on Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather in an effort to save their proposed super bout set March 13, 2010, from being shelved owing to a disagreement with drug testing procedures.
Pacquiao said he has been insulted by Mayweather’s demand that he undergo Olympic-style testing for banned substances.
Source: fightnews.com
A urine sample of Manny Pacquiao is on its way to Manila, World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) accredited doctor Alex Pineda told Fightnews and Manila Bulletin on Wednesday afternoon. Pineda, who also works for the Philippine Olympic Committee, personally witnessed the initial phase of testing at Pacquiao’s residence in General Santos City. Pineda arrived in General Santos City at around lunchtime, headed to Pacquiao’s palatial home where he got the sample, then was driven back to the airport so he could catch the plane bound for Manila.
The samples (a total of 100 ml)–labeled “A” and “B”–will be sent to Thailand, Malaysia or China because “we don’t have a Wada-accredited testing in the country,” said Pineda.
Results of the tests will be sent to his office or to the desk of Games and Amusements Board chairman Eric Buhain, who had requested Pineda to go to General Santos City.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC), had ordered that tests be done on Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather in an effort to save their proposed super bout set March 13, 2010, from being shelved owing to a disagreement with drug testing procedures.
Pacquiao said he has been insulted by Mayweather’s demand that he undergo Olympic-style testing for banned substances.
Source: fightnews.com
Pacquiao’s Nevada blood test -- FightNews
FightNews.com
It has been erroneously reported that Manny Pacquiao had his blood test, required for a Nevada boxing license, taken two weeks before his fight against Ricky Hatton. The truth is, “24/7 Pacquiao-Hatton” TAPED Manny’s blood test 24 days before the fight. and aired it closer to the fight. To see a copy of Pacquiao’s blood test dated April 8 (the fight was May 2).
Source: fightnews.com
It has been erroneously reported that Manny Pacquiao had his blood test, required for a Nevada boxing license, taken two weeks before his fight against Ricky Hatton. The truth is, “24/7 Pacquiao-Hatton” TAPED Manny’s blood test 24 days before the fight. and aired it closer to the fight. To see a copy of Pacquiao’s blood test dated April 8 (the fight was May 2).
Source: fightnews.com
DR. PINEDA ARRIVES IN GENSAN. PACQUIAO TO BE TESTED THIS AFTERNOON -- PhilBoxing
By Ronnie Nathanielsz, PhilBoxing
Dr. Alex Pineda of the Philippine Olympic Committee who is the only doctor accredited by the World Anti Doping Agency to test athletes has arrived in General Santos City, hometown of boxing hero Manny Pacquiao.
Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz informed us about the arrival of Dr. Pineda and said he would conduct the urine test on Pacquiao this afternoon as directed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
Pacquiao was up early morning meeting with some of his political supporters apparently discussing his bid for a congressional seat in Sarangani in the May 2010 elections.
Pacquiao and his family will celebrate the birthday of his eldest daughter Mary Divine Grace later today which was the reason for his requesting Dr. Pineda to fly to GenSan to conduct the urine test within the 48 hour period set down by the chairwoman of the Nevada State Athletic Commission Pat Lundvall.
Meantime, contrary to claims that Pacquiao had taken a blood test some 14 days before his fight with Britain’s Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton last May 2, respected boxing writer Rick Reeno of boxingscene.com has punched holes in the claim of Golden Boy Promotions based on verified documents that showed the blood test on Pacquiao was done 24 days before the fight.
Source: philboxing.com
Dr. Alex Pineda of the Philippine Olympic Committee who is the only doctor accredited by the World Anti Doping Agency to test athletes has arrived in General Santos City, hometown of boxing hero Manny Pacquiao.
Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz informed us about the arrival of Dr. Pineda and said he would conduct the urine test on Pacquiao this afternoon as directed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
Pacquiao was up early morning meeting with some of his political supporters apparently discussing his bid for a congressional seat in Sarangani in the May 2010 elections.
Pacquiao and his family will celebrate the birthday of his eldest daughter Mary Divine Grace later today which was the reason for his requesting Dr. Pineda to fly to GenSan to conduct the urine test within the 48 hour period set down by the chairwoman of the Nevada State Athletic Commission Pat Lundvall.
Meantime, contrary to claims that Pacquiao had taken a blood test some 14 days before his fight with Britain’s Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton last May 2, respected boxing writer Rick Reeno of boxingscene.com has punched holes in the claim of Golden Boy Promotions based on verified documents that showed the blood test on Pacquiao was done 24 days before the fight.
Source: philboxing.com
Pacman blasts Floyd camp -- The Sun
By PAT SHEEHAN, The Sun
MANNY PACQUIAO claims he has been stabbed in the back following his drug-testing row with Floyd Mayweather Jnr.
The Filipino is furious at suggestions he has beefed up by using steroids after he refused to undergo Olympic standard testing.
Mayweather's camp are demanding Pacquiao submits blood and urine samples throughout his training regime, fight week and even the day after their proposed March 13 clash.
Pacman has agreed to unlimited urine testing and at least three blood tests, one in early January, a second 30 days before the fight and another in the dressing room immediately after the bout.
However, Mayweather's side are adamant only procedures conducted by the US Anti-Doping Agency should be used.
But Pacquiao came out shooting from the lip at the stance Mayweather and his promoters Golden Boy — headed by legend Ocar De La Hoya — have taken in the row.
He roared: "In all my years of fighting, I have never tested positive for any steroids or performance enhancing drugs use.
"I will provide any specimen, whether it be blood or urine samples, just right after the fight but not a day or two before, for obvious reasons.
"That should stop these clowns from asking for other drug testing procedures other than the ones already required by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
"It is a pity because Oscar Golden Boy Dela Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions should have been supporting me, too, because his company has a promotional stake in my career.
"They all say they got my back, but yes, they stab me, too, when I turn my back."
Source: thesun.co.uk
MANNY PACQUIAO claims he has been stabbed in the back following his drug-testing row with Floyd Mayweather Jnr.
The Filipino is furious at suggestions he has beefed up by using steroids after he refused to undergo Olympic standard testing.
Mayweather's camp are demanding Pacquiao submits blood and urine samples throughout his training regime, fight week and even the day after their proposed March 13 clash.
Pacman has agreed to unlimited urine testing and at least three blood tests, one in early January, a second 30 days before the fight and another in the dressing room immediately after the bout.
However, Mayweather's side are adamant only procedures conducted by the US Anti-Doping Agency should be used.
But Pacquiao came out shooting from the lip at the stance Mayweather and his promoters Golden Boy — headed by legend Ocar De La Hoya — have taken in the row.
He roared: "In all my years of fighting, I have never tested positive for any steroids or performance enhancing drugs use.
"I will provide any specimen, whether it be blood or urine samples, just right after the fight but not a day or two before, for obvious reasons.
"That should stop these clowns from asking for other drug testing procedures other than the ones already required by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
"It is a pity because Oscar Golden Boy Dela Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions should have been supporting me, too, because his company has a promotional stake in my career.
"They all say they got my back, but yes, they stab me, too, when I turn my back."
Source: thesun.co.uk
Roy Jones Jr. takes Pacquiao’s side about the blood tests -- BoxingNews24
By Scott Gilfoid, BoxingNews24.com
The great Roy Jones Jr. is firmly on Manny Pacquiao’s side, according to an interview at Boxing Talk. Speaking about the blood tests, Jones said “Why should he [Pacquiao] change for Floyd? [Mayweather]…If you’re going to check him, why didn’t you check [Juan Manuel] Marquez? It’s kind of strange to call him out on this, and nobody else.” I totally agree with you, Roy. Why make poor Pacquiao the whipping boy for this new steroid testing? If they wanted to change the rules at this point, it should have come from the Nevada Athletic Commission, not the Mayweather camp.
I don’t blame Pacquiao for not wanting to go along with the program on this blood testing, especially when it’s not the norm for fights in Nevada. And on top of that, Pacquiao is uncomfortable with having any blood taken from his body. I could tell just watching Manny have blood taken from him on the HBO Pacquiao-Hatton 24/7 series. Poor Manny had to put his sunglasses on while having his blood taken. He probably did that to shut out the experience.
It’s not easy for some people. On the surface, yeah, it seems like not a big deal for most of us, but not for him. At the same token, Pacquiao is the best there is in the ring, and he does things that we can’t or wouldn’t want to do. It just goes like that. Who wants get hit in the face? Pacquiao is fearless in that regard.
Jones says “The testing is very good right now, and there’s nothing he [Pacquiao] could really do that they can’t find out. Why make Pacquiao take the test and not anybody else?” I hear you, Roy. Why make Pacquiao the test case for this kind of thing. This stuff should have been settled long before this fight, you know? You can’t just change the rules and then demonize Manny just because he’s squeamish about having his blood taken from him. I say forget about the blood tests entirely.
If Mayweather wants fight against someone that is tested 24/7 randomly for blood, he should throw that out there to them long before it gets to the negotiating point. If they know what time it is, they can say yes or no about whether they’ll be willing to take this test. I wouldn’t take the tests if they tried to pressure me into taking them, and I don’t care what people think. There’s no reason for Pacquiao to have to do what isn’t normally done for a fight. I could udnerstand, like I said, if this was the norm, but it’s not.
So my suggestion is that they forget completely about the blood tests and just focus on having the urine tested. If Mayweather is such a great talent like he says he is, then he should be more than good enough to beat Pacquiao without these tests. Mayweather is proud about rarely getting hit in his fights, so why is he worried about the testing methods? He isn’t going to wrestle Pacquiao on the canvas. Pacquiao should tell them all to kiss his backside if they want him to take these tests.
Source: boxingnews24.com
The great Roy Jones Jr. is firmly on Manny Pacquiao’s side, according to an interview at Boxing Talk. Speaking about the blood tests, Jones said “Why should he [Pacquiao] change for Floyd? [Mayweather]…If you’re going to check him, why didn’t you check [Juan Manuel] Marquez? It’s kind of strange to call him out on this, and nobody else.” I totally agree with you, Roy. Why make poor Pacquiao the whipping boy for this new steroid testing? If they wanted to change the rules at this point, it should have come from the Nevada Athletic Commission, not the Mayweather camp.
I don’t blame Pacquiao for not wanting to go along with the program on this blood testing, especially when it’s not the norm for fights in Nevada. And on top of that, Pacquiao is uncomfortable with having any blood taken from his body. I could tell just watching Manny have blood taken from him on the HBO Pacquiao-Hatton 24/7 series. Poor Manny had to put his sunglasses on while having his blood taken. He probably did that to shut out the experience.
It’s not easy for some people. On the surface, yeah, it seems like not a big deal for most of us, but not for him. At the same token, Pacquiao is the best there is in the ring, and he does things that we can’t or wouldn’t want to do. It just goes like that. Who wants get hit in the face? Pacquiao is fearless in that regard.
Jones says “The testing is very good right now, and there’s nothing he [Pacquiao] could really do that they can’t find out. Why make Pacquiao take the test and not anybody else?” I hear you, Roy. Why make Pacquiao the test case for this kind of thing. This stuff should have been settled long before this fight, you know? You can’t just change the rules and then demonize Manny just because he’s squeamish about having his blood taken from him. I say forget about the blood tests entirely.
If Mayweather wants fight against someone that is tested 24/7 randomly for blood, he should throw that out there to them long before it gets to the negotiating point. If they know what time it is, they can say yes or no about whether they’ll be willing to take this test. I wouldn’t take the tests if they tried to pressure me into taking them, and I don’t care what people think. There’s no reason for Pacquiao to have to do what isn’t normally done for a fight. I could udnerstand, like I said, if this was the norm, but it’s not.
So my suggestion is that they forget completely about the blood tests and just focus on having the urine tested. If Mayweather is such a great talent like he says he is, then he should be more than good enough to beat Pacquiao without these tests. Mayweather is proud about rarely getting hit in his fights, so why is he worried about the testing methods? He isn’t going to wrestle Pacquiao on the canvas. Pacquiao should tell them all to kiss his backside if they want him to take these tests.
Source: boxingnews24.com
Yuri Foreman is Potential Manny Pacquiao Rival -- FanHouse
By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse
Top Rank promoter, Bob Arum, is strongly considering Manny Pacquiao's next opponent to be New York's WBA junior middleweight (154 pounds) champion, Yuri Foreman, citing "too many hard feelings" as reasons for scuttling contentious negotiations for a March 13, bout with Floyd Mayweather that promised to be the most lucrative in boxing history.
Arum said he could announce Foreman (28-0, eight KOs) as the seven-division champion's next rival as early as Wednesday, with the clash between Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 knockouts) and Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs) in jeopardy due to an ongoing, drug-testing controversy.
"At this particular point, there is no movement at all with the Mayweather side," said Arum, "and the attitude in the Philippines is that they want to move on."
Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, which is working on behalf of Mayweather, could not be reached for comment.
Arum also promotes Foreman, a rabbinical student born in Gomel, Belarus. Now a Bronx resident, Foreman is the first native Israeli to win a professional boxing crown.
"I think that Foreman represents a better story for Manny," said Arum. "And it's a test for Manny to see if he can go up to an eighth weight class."
Arum said that he arrived at his decision on Monday night -- Tuesday in the Philippines -- when he spoke to Pacquiao's adviser, Michael Koncz, who is with the fighter there.
"There's so much bad feeling now, that we're better off fighting somebody else and maybe revisiting this fight with Mayweather in the fall," said Arum. "So I'm going to schedule, for late tonight, our time -- which is early in the morning in the Philippines -- to talk directly with Manny and make a decision then."
A five-time world champion, Mayweather's side is demanding that both fighters be tested using random urinalysis and blood work that could be drawn as close to the fight as possible.
Pacquiao, who is coming off of last month's 12th-round techinical knockout which dethroned Miguel Cotto for the WBO welterweight (147 pounds) title, has agreed to have urine tests done.
But Pacquiao has contended that he would prefer not to have blood drawn within 30 days of the fight because taking blood from him that close to the competition would weaken him.
The champion's assertion was challenged, however, on Monday when Mayweather's camp pointed out that Pacquiao had blood drawn during a pre-fight physical -- a procedure they believed had occurred within about two weeks of Pacquiao's second-round knockout of Ricky Hatton.
After checking with officials at HBO, however, Arum said that that notion appears to have been in error.
"We researched it, and we have all of the documentary evidence, and it was 24 days before the fight, which is very close to the 30-day period that we offered for Manny to have blood drawn. That's very significant," said Arum. "The fight was May 2, and the blood was drawn on April 8 -- 24 days before the fight. HBO made a mistake by saying that it was done at a period that they indicated was 14 days."
Arum said that the HBO footage -- as well as the notion of moving ahead with a Mayweather fight -- was brought up during his conversation with Koncz, who indicated that Pacquiao, nevertheless, wanted to go in a different direction.
"As far as I'm concerned, I really, really believe that the best course of action is to forget about this fight now, and to revisit it in the fall -- if then -- when everybody cools down," said Arum, who had first considered New York junior welterweight (140 pounds) Paulie Malignaggi (27-3, five KOs) -- who also believes Pacquiao should be randomly blood-tested -- as a replacement for Mayweather.
"The people viewing it from the Philippines, and the Pacquiao camp, they're very, very angry people," said Arum. "I just don't think that they're going to be very receptive."
But another, potentially damaging question for Pacquiao was raised in a Christmas Day article written by New York Daily News columnist, Tim Smith, a boxing scribe for more than two decades and a 2005 winner of The Boxing Writer's Association of America's prestigious Nat Fleischer Award for excellence in fight coverage.
Citing "a source familiar with the talks," Smith wrote that "Pacquiao's representatives asked what penalties Pacquiao would face if he tested dirty, and also if a dirty test result could be kept secret so that the integrity of the fight wouldn't be ruined in the public eye."
"Those are disturbing requests," wrote Smith. "It could just be due diligence on the part of the attorneys negotiating the contract or it could be that Pacquiao has something to hide."
But in a prepared statement issued on Tuesday, Pacquiao blamed Golden Boy and Mayweather Promotions for "twisting facts," claiming that Mayweather, himself, has accused the Filipino fighter of being "into some kind of 'roids," of having, "used other banned substances," and "directly accused [Pacquiao] of performance enhancement drug use."
"For including my country in the picture, claiming that we are producers of the best performance enhancing drugs, Mayweather and those who are guilty need to get punished," said Pacquiao. "The sooner, the better -- whether it be in the courts or in the ring."
Golden Boy Promotions has received offficial notification of Pacquiao's plan to sue their company, Mayweather, and his father, Floyd Mayweather Sr., for defamation of character, said Arum.
"This morning [Tuesday], they'll get the letter about the lawsuit. It was sent today by Manny's attorney and our attorney in Los Angeles, Daniel Petrocelli, who is one of the top litigators," said Arum. "We've taken whatever legal steps have to be taken, and we put them on notice for that."
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Top Rank promoter, Bob Arum, is strongly considering Manny Pacquiao's next opponent to be New York's WBA junior middleweight (154 pounds) champion, Yuri Foreman, citing "too many hard feelings" as reasons for scuttling contentious negotiations for a March 13, bout with Floyd Mayweather that promised to be the most lucrative in boxing history.
Arum said he could announce Foreman (28-0, eight KOs) as the seven-division champion's next rival as early as Wednesday, with the clash between Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 knockouts) and Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs) in jeopardy due to an ongoing, drug-testing controversy.
"At this particular point, there is no movement at all with the Mayweather side," said Arum, "and the attitude in the Philippines is that they want to move on."
Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, which is working on behalf of Mayweather, could not be reached for comment.
Arum also promotes Foreman, a rabbinical student born in Gomel, Belarus. Now a Bronx resident, Foreman is the first native Israeli to win a professional boxing crown.
"I think that Foreman represents a better story for Manny," said Arum. "And it's a test for Manny to see if he can go up to an eighth weight class."
Arum said that he arrived at his decision on Monday night -- Tuesday in the Philippines -- when he spoke to Pacquiao's adviser, Michael Koncz, who is with the fighter there.
"There's so much bad feeling now, that we're better off fighting somebody else and maybe revisiting this fight with Mayweather in the fall," said Arum. "So I'm going to schedule, for late tonight, our time -- which is early in the morning in the Philippines -- to talk directly with Manny and make a decision then."
A five-time world champion, Mayweather's side is demanding that both fighters be tested using random urinalysis and blood work that could be drawn as close to the fight as possible.
Pacquiao, who is coming off of last month's 12th-round techinical knockout which dethroned Miguel Cotto for the WBO welterweight (147 pounds) title, has agreed to have urine tests done.
But Pacquiao has contended that he would prefer not to have blood drawn within 30 days of the fight because taking blood from him that close to the competition would weaken him.
The champion's assertion was challenged, however, on Monday when Mayweather's camp pointed out that Pacquiao had blood drawn during a pre-fight physical -- a procedure they believed had occurred within about two weeks of Pacquiao's second-round knockout of Ricky Hatton.
After checking with officials at HBO, however, Arum said that that notion appears to have been in error.
"We researched it, and we have all of the documentary evidence, and it was 24 days before the fight, which is very close to the 30-day period that we offered for Manny to have blood drawn. That's very significant," said Arum. "The fight was May 2, and the blood was drawn on April 8 -- 24 days before the fight. HBO made a mistake by saying that it was done at a period that they indicated was 14 days."
Arum said that the HBO footage -- as well as the notion of moving ahead with a Mayweather fight -- was brought up during his conversation with Koncz, who indicated that Pacquiao, nevertheless, wanted to go in a different direction.
"As far as I'm concerned, I really, really believe that the best course of action is to forget about this fight now, and to revisit it in the fall -- if then -- when everybody cools down," said Arum, who had first considered New York junior welterweight (140 pounds) Paulie Malignaggi (27-3, five KOs) -- who also believes Pacquiao should be randomly blood-tested -- as a replacement for Mayweather.
"The people viewing it from the Philippines, and the Pacquiao camp, they're very, very angry people," said Arum. "I just don't think that they're going to be very receptive."
But another, potentially damaging question for Pacquiao was raised in a Christmas Day article written by New York Daily News columnist, Tim Smith, a boxing scribe for more than two decades and a 2005 winner of The Boxing Writer's Association of America's prestigious Nat Fleischer Award for excellence in fight coverage.
Citing "a source familiar with the talks," Smith wrote that "Pacquiao's representatives asked what penalties Pacquiao would face if he tested dirty, and also if a dirty test result could be kept secret so that the integrity of the fight wouldn't be ruined in the public eye."
"Those are disturbing requests," wrote Smith. "It could just be due diligence on the part of the attorneys negotiating the contract or it could be that Pacquiao has something to hide."
But in a prepared statement issued on Tuesday, Pacquiao blamed Golden Boy and Mayweather Promotions for "twisting facts," claiming that Mayweather, himself, has accused the Filipino fighter of being "into some kind of 'roids," of having, "used other banned substances," and "directly accused [Pacquiao] of performance enhancement drug use."
"For including my country in the picture, claiming that we are producers of the best performance enhancing drugs, Mayweather and those who are guilty need to get punished," said Pacquiao. "The sooner, the better -- whether it be in the courts or in the ring."
Golden Boy Promotions has received offficial notification of Pacquiao's plan to sue their company, Mayweather, and his father, Floyd Mayweather Sr., for defamation of character, said Arum.
"This morning [Tuesday], they'll get the letter about the lawsuit. It was sent today by Manny's attorney and our attorney in Los Angeles, Daniel Petrocelli, who is one of the top litigators," said Arum. "We've taken whatever legal steps have to be taken, and we put them on notice for that."
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
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